Starting device for gas engines



Jan. 17,; 1928..

4 J. V. RICE, JR

' swarms DEVICE FOR ens ENGINES Original Filed June 3. 1921 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES Jenn v, Bron,

JR., BOB-IDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, MESNE ASSIGN- murrrsro ram) n. resnna, or new roan, 1v. Y.

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Application filed June a, 1921, Serial no;4v4,7ra.-nenewed May at, 1927.

My present invention relates to a starting device for internal combustion engines, an to the special class of starters known as pneumatic starters, in which air pressure is 5 introduced into the engine so as to actagainst the piston and impart an initial impulse thereto.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my inventlon:

The single figure shown is a vertical section of a portion of the cylinder of a gas engine with my improved starting device applied thereto, afragment of the piston being indicated in side elevation,

My invention is primarily adapted for use with the engine shown and described in my Letters Patent No. 1,429,254 dated Sept. 19, 1922, for internal combustion engine, wherein a two-cycle engine is fully set forth, but it will be obvious that I am not restricted to this kind of engine and that the invention has a wide application to all kinds of explosion and other engines wherein it is desired to introduce air pressure to initially move a reciprocating member.

In the particular specimen of mechanism shown in this case, for explanatory purposes merely, I have selected the type of two-cycle engine set forth in the aforesaid Letters Patent, wherein 1 denotes a cylinder having an explosion chamber A, a compression chamber E in the end of the cylinder, and a part or the piston 4.

In the side wallof the cylinder frame is an inlet passage 31 for the incoming-explosive mixture or fuel which flows from the passage 31 through the ports 32 in the cylinder wall and enters the chamber E, whence it passes through the piston 4: to the other compression chamber (not shown) and makes its way throughout the different ports and passages in a manner fully explained in said Letters Patent.

In an engine of this character, I introduce air pressure into the explosion chamber at the proper time so that it may act against the piston, at 4? for example, and cause it to move downward in the direction shown by the arrow. The wall of the cylinder 1 is prose vided with a suitable opening entered by screw-threaded passage 105, into which is screwed the valve casing 107. T Said casing 107 has in the side thereof an opening 113 into the passage 114, which communicates M with the passage 106 leading to some suitable storage of air which may be in a reservoir supplied by an automatic pump actuated by the movement of the engine (not shown). Passage 106 with its lateral outlet 114i is preferably fastened to the casing 107 by a screw device 112. In connection with the end of the casing 107 and opening into chamber A is an-air inlet valve 117 having a beveled edge which rests on a beveled seat so that when the explosion-takes place in chamher A this valve 117 will merely be pressed firmly to its seat and will be capable of withstanding the eliects of the explosion. Valve 117 has a stem 115 which passes through the casing; 107 and is made integral with or 79 securely fastened to another stem 103 which projects from the opposite end of the valve casing and is properly packed by means of a gland 109, a screw cap 108 which'screws into the end of the valve casing, and an inner nut 116 which serves to make a tight joint. On

the stem 103 inside the casing 107 is a screwthreaded section 111 on which is a traveling adjustable nut 110 between which and the opposite end of the valve casing is ranged a 313 spring 113 which acts to draw the valve 117 back upon its seat after ithas been unseated to open it and allow starting pressure to entor the chamber A.

A shaft 100 runs alongside of the cylinder and is supported in a bracket 104, arranged some suitable way above the main supporting frame 15 and having thereon cams 101 which are adapted to engage the end of the projecting valve stem 103. When a cam acts against the end of stem 103 the said stem will be depressed and the valve 117 opened. so that air will rush through the pas- 106 into the passage 11 1 and opening 113 into the valve casing, and out past the valve 117 into the chamber A where it will act against the piston at 1 and start the same in a rectilineal movement, or will reverse the operation, driving the crank-shaft in one direction or the other.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a device of the class described, the combination with a piston and achamber surroimding the same, ot a valve device on the wall oi said chamber comprising a valve casing, having a lateral air inlet, a pipe for carrying air pressure into said casing, a valve opening :irom the casing into the charm her, saidyalve having i threaded stem, an open spring whose coils are loose and Wide apartso that all may pass freely through them, an adjustable nut on the threaded part of the stem between which and the 0pposite end of the valve casing the spring is arranged, a second stem aligned wlth and connected to the other stem and projecting from the valve casing, a, packing gland therefor, a screw cap for the valve casmg, a 10 shaft and a cam thereon to engage the outer end of the stem, and move it to open the air inlet valve. t

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN V. RICE, J3. 

